The Tudors

Tarsem Singh’s DAWN OF WAR In 3D? Yes, Please.

by Bill Graham    Posted: February 2nd, 2010 at 11:35 am

Tarsem Singh, best know for producing, writing, and directing the visually stimulating The Fall, has brought the $115-million Montreal-based production of the ancient Greece epic Dawn of War to a screeching halt, according to The Montreal Gazette (via The Playlist). The culprit should come as no surprise: 3D.

The producers are contemplating shooting the film in 3D, a move that would add roughly $15 million to the budget and possibly delay shooting, which was scheduled to begin this month. However, this isn’t your average studio film being thrown an extra dimension. Singh is known for his visuals, which was about the only redeeming quality of his first feature film, The Cell. With lots of special effects and an extra dimension, it should be interesting to see what Singh brings to the table if they move forward with 3D. Meanwhile, Henry Cavill of The Tudors fame is still set to star in the film, which Singh says he is bringing a contemporary style to.

Showtime Greenlights THE BORGIAS Starring Jeremy Irons

by Matt Currie    Posted: January 10th, 2010 at 5:30 pm

Before you can say “spousal decapitation”, Showtime will be trading in Jonathan Rhys Meyers’ baby blues for Jeremy Irons’ adolescent browns. Variety reports that the cable network has ordered ten episodes of The Borgias, a historical drama that will star Irons as Rodrigo Borgia, head of the infamously corrupt Renaissance family (think Don Corleone in a puffy shirt) and a man who, despite his unsavory reputation, became pope in 1492. The show was created by film director Neil Jordan and will be exec produced by Jordan along with Michael Hirst, whose current historical drama, The Tudors, is set to conclude its four-season run this year.

The Tudors has been a significant ratings success for Showtime. Seemingly, Borgias is being set up as a replacement. However, it’ll be interesting to see just how many viewers stick around without the alluring combination of soap opera-ish love triangles and Jonathan Rhys Meyers’ uncommon man-beauty. Regardless, the saga of Rodrigo Borgia and his family is undeniably compelling material in its own right, fraught with political intrigue, murder, and all manners of debauchery–basically everything we’ve come to love the premium cable networks for portraying so very graphically. Look for it some time in early 2011.

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